One student dead after South Carolina university shooting

February 27, 2013|Reuters

By Harriet McLeod

CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb 27 (Reuters) - A 19-year-old studentdied following a shooting on Tuesday at a residence hall of aSouth Carolina university near the resort area of Myrtle Beach,and authorities were searching for a gunman, universityofficials said.

Anthony Liddell, a sophomore from Bennettsville, SouthCarolina, died following the shooting at Coastal CarolinaUniversity in Conway, the university said in a statement.

The shooting occurred just before 7:30 p.m. at UniversityPlace, an apartment-style residence hall that is home to nearly2,000 students.

Residence halls would remain on lockdown throughout thenight, but the gunman was believed to have fled campus, schoolofficials said. Classes will be held Wednesday, the statementsaid.

"The suspect fled in a vehicle. The campus is still onlockdown, although people in classrooms were allowed to go home.Those in dorms were advised to stay inside," said Mona Prufer, auniversity spokeswoman.

Conway police gave no information on the motive for theshooting and referred questions to state police, which did notreturn phone calls.

The nation remains on edge over gun violence following theelementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, in December,in which 20 children and six adults were shot and killed.

That rampage reignited a broad national debate over guncontrol and prompted President Barack Obama to push Congress topass tighter gun restrictions.

More than 9,000 students attend Coastal Carolina University,which was founded in 1954 as Coastal Carolina Junior College andbecame an independent university in 1993.

Counselors and ministers will provide assistance onWednesday to students at a campus chapel and at residence halls,the university said.